Free Things to Do in North Norfolk

There's plenty of free family fun to be enjoyed in north Norfolk during the spring and summer holidays, without spending a penny. 

Bountiful beaches

There is so much do to along north Norfolk’s 45 miles of coastline with its award winning and Blue Flag beaches. From building sandcastles, to swimming (stay in the lifeguarded areas for safety), to playing games on the beach, there is plenty to do for all the family. Head to West Runton beach to try fossil hunting and rock pooling, play in the white sands at Wells. It's quite common to see seals bobbing about in the water! Find out more about beaches here. For quieter beaches, there are several that are off the popular beaten track - try Walcott, Sea Palling and Weybourne. There are beaches that are more accessible such as Cromer and Sheringham where you can also hire beach wheelchairs. 

Get back to nature

North Norfolk is home to several nature reserves and you can spend a day at Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve without spending a penny. There are three signposted nature trails to choose from within the reserve and you can enjoy a spot of birdwatching along the way. (Parking fees apply).

You can also head to Holkham National Nature Reserve and explore the pinewoods, sand dunes and marshland. See if you can spot wildlife including Natterjack toads, Barn Owls and Little Terns.

Star Gazing

For night time adventures, try star gazing. North Norfolk’s skies are well known for having little light pollution and when it gets dark, check out the wonderful views of the Milky Way, the Plough and Orion’s Belt. North Norfolk is one of the few places in the UK where you can see the northern lights (aurora borealis).

Two sites, Wiveton Downs and Kelling Health Holiday Park, have Dark Sky Discovery Status, which means the area is unaffected by light pollution, ideal for stargazing. If you’re camping, you have the perfect opportunity to sit back and watch the stars.

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Explore history and heritage

If boating floats your boat, head along to Wells Lifeboat Station. Take a close look at the boats and often crew are around to tell you more about the lifeboat station. Open evenings are also held during the summer. 

There are free-to-enter museums in north Norfolk (check opening times and dates ahead of your visit) which offer a great day out (especially if it's raining!). The Henry Blogg Museum in Cromer tells the story of Henry Blogg, the most decorated lifeboatman in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (including medals for gallantry). Find out more about the history of lifeboats in Cromer and details of Blogg’s lifeboat rescues and keep an eye out for the free and events at the museum.

For a more unusual museum visit, pop along to the Fakenham Museum of Gas and Local History, the last surviving town gasworks within Wales or England and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Explore the diverse collection of gas manufacturing equipment as well as lighting, cooking and heating displays.

Discover the Deep History Coast

North Norfolk is home to some of the earliest evidence of human British civilisation, the world's biggest mammoth skeleton remains were found at West Runton and a 550,000 year old flint axe was discovered in Happisburgh. There's so much history to explore! The Deep History Coast Discovery Trail gives visitors the chance to find out more about the ancient history of the area through augmented reality and a free App, which can be downloaded for free. Meet the Hominin family as they explain what life was like for them and the kind of animals alongside which they existed. Find out how Norfolk was linked by land to Europe and try games and quizzes on the App. 

Another great free activity is hunting for fossils along the Deep History Coast. Fossil hunting is an exciting activity as you may well find your own piece of history dating back millions of years! There are many different types of fossils you can come across along the Deep History Coast, each telling a different story about the creatures that lived here.

Wonderful walks

For woodland walks, head to Bacton, near North Walsham and Holt Country Park (parking fee applies). See what wildlife you can spot, what ‘treasure’ you can find or play a game of hide and seek. Holt Country Park also has a tearoom and there are plenty of picnic spots of you take you own refreshments. From coastal to countryside walks, there are a huge amount of trails of varying distances. The Coasthopper bus service runs regularly to get you back to your car if you’re on a one-way trail along the Coast Path or there are plenty of circular routes. The site also has cycling trails. And print out our I Spy sheet and see how many things you can spot along your walk. Find more trails here. 

Fantastic Festivals

There are some brilliant free-to-attend festivals throughout the year with most taking place in spring and summer. The Viking Festival in Sheringham celebrates the town's viking links (takes place at the beginning of April). There's plenty on over the weekend event including battles and boat burning. This kicks off the carnival and festival season with plenty to follow including Cromer Crab and Lobster Festival in May, many town carnivals throughout August and the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival in September. Find out dates on our what's on pages. 

Redwings Horse Sanctuary

Adorable donkey duo, Wiggins and Wacko, and gorgeous horse Gulliver, are just some of the 50 rescued residents ready to make your acquaintance at Redwings Aylsham in Norfolk. Since forming in 1984, Redwings now cares for over 1,500 rescued horses, donkey, ponies and mules at its centres across the country – which includes Redwings Aylsham, a Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction and East Life Awards winner in 2022. Everything Redwings does is 100% funded by the public. It is totally free to enter and dogs on leads are welcome. As well as making new horse friends, you can enjoy a relaxing stroll around the centre’s peaceful wildlife walks. Hot drinks and warm lunches are available from Gulliver’s Café afterwards, including hand-made pizzas, and there is a gift shop to browse, offering a wide range of souvenirs. Find out more here.